The First Beings

The throne room was ablaze with music, the orchestra's melodic strains weaving a spell of enchantment over the assembled nobles. For one fleeting evening, the treacherous undercurrents of court politics were forgotten, and the guests surrendered to the beauty of the night.

But Loren had slipped away, seeking the solitude of the balcony. The stars twinkled above, a celestial showcase of diamonds scattered across the velvet expanse. The night air was crisp and quiet, a balm to his frazzled nerves.

And then, like a whispered secret, he heard the singing. The melody was hauntingly familiar, a siren's call that drew him in with its beauty. The orchestra's music faded into the background as the singer's voice rose, a crystal-clear thread that seemed to connect directly to Loren's heart.

The room fell silent, the crowd entranced by the singer's ethereal voice. Loren turned, his gaze drawn back into the throne room. Every eye was fixed on a single figure: the woman with silver hair, her voice soaring as she approached the throne.

Loren felt a shiver run down his spine. He was too far away to hear her voice with such clarity, yet somehow, he could sense every nuance, every emotional undertone. It was as if she was singing directly to him, her voice a whispered promise in his mind.

Telepathy, perhaps? Or something more? Loren's heart pounded in his chest as he watched, transfixed, the woman's mesmerizing performance.

Loren's heart sank as the woman reached the throne, where his mother and the Queen sat in stern judgment. The three Knights guarding the Queen moved to block her path, their spear, sword, and arrow at the ready.

But before they could react, Loren vanished from the balcony and reappeared beside the woman, grasping her arm in a desperate bid to defuse the situation. "Apologies, Your Majesty and fellow Knights, for the rudeness and alarm. I'll just have her return to—"

But the woman would not be silenced. She spoke for the first time, her voice husky and confident, as she gazed around the room with an unnerving intensity. "How fascinating. So this is the outside world."

Loren's eyes widened as she slipped free from his grasp, her gaze locking onto his with an unblinking stare. She smiled, a cold, mirthless smile, and reached out to enclose his face in her hands. "Oh, finally we meet," she whispered, her breath a whispered promise against his lips.

The room erupted into chaos, the Queen's voice rising above the din. "I've never known that you had the quiet beauty of a wife, Loren."

Loren's face burned with embarrassment as he struggled to extricate himself from the woman's grasp. "I-I never mentioned it to you, Muscovante, or to anyone else. My wife, you see, has a habit of—"

But the Queen's eyes flashed with warning, and Loren's words died on his lips. The Knights closed in, their faces set in stern lines, as the Queen rose from her throne and approached the woman.

Her eyes glowed with an unearthly yellow light as she reached out to touch the woman's chin. "I have a question in my mind since I saw your wife, Number 7... You are different."

The woman's smile grew wider, her eyes flashing with a cold blue light. "You are trying to read my mind, aren't you, my Queen?"

Loren's heart sank as the woman's words hung in the air, a challenge to the Queen's authority. He knew that he had to intervene, to salvage the situation before it spiraled out of control.

But before he could react, the woman dropped into a deep curtsy, her voice dripping with honey. "My name is Anastasia, my Queen. Daughter of someone who hasn't had a name in social gatherings such as this. Only lucky to be married to a loving husband."

As she spoke, she reached out and grasped Loren's hand, her smile a proud declaration to the assembled nobles. Loren's heart sank, trapped in a web of deceit and intrigue from which he saw no escape.

"Liar! We never knew that Your Imperial Highness has a woman aside from my daughter!" he heard a shout from the crowd.

The voice cut through the din of the crowd, a familiar baritone that sent a shiver down Loren's spine. Venicio, the head of the Garados Family and Elaine's father, had made his presence known.

Loren's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Elaine's familiar face. When their gazes met, he felt a jolt of electricity run through his veins. But instead of warmth, Elaine's eyes seemed to hold a deep sadness, a sense of resignation that made Loren's heart ache.

As the Queen's announcement echoed through the hall, declaring Loren as her official Knight, he felt a surge of pride mixed with trepidation. Anastasia's arms wrapped around his, her smile a radiant beacon that drew the crowd's attention.

But Loren's mind was elsewhere, his thoughts consumed by the enigmatic woman who had captured his heart. He watched as his mother approached Venicio, her expression apologetic, and wondered what secrets lay hidden beneath the surface.

As the crowd began to disperse, Loren seized the opportunity to escape, making his way to the garden where he knew he would find Elaine. The night air was heavy with the scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of soft music drifted through the trees.

Elaine sat on a bench, her brown dress blending seamlessly into the shadows. She seemed to be communing with the plants, her eyes closed as she whispered secrets to the lilies. Loren's heart swelled with emotion as he approached her, his footsteps quiet on the gravel path.

Before he could reach her side, Elaine's eyes snapped open, her gaze piercing the darkness. "Then there he is, the man who swore to make me his wife, lilies," she said, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Loren's heart skipped a beat as he knelt before her, his right leg bent in a gesture of fealty. "Elaine, my love," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

But Elaine's response was icy, her words cutting deep into Loren's soul. "There's no need to call me that, Your Imperial Highness."

As he raised his gaze to meet hers, Loren saw the pain lurking behind her eyes, the tears she struggled to hold back. His heart ached with longing, and he reached out to touch her hand, his fingers brushing against hers.

But Elaine pulled away, her eyes flashing with warning. "We don't have anything to discuss, Your Imperial Highness. Your wife surely is looking at you inside."

Loren's words were cut short by a sudden surge of killing intent, the air thickening with tension. He raised his left hand, and to his surprise, he found himself blocking a fiery arrow that seemed to come out of nowhere.

The arrow's elemental power clashed with his own, sending a jolt of electricity through his veins. "Elaine, stand back!" he shouted, covering her with his body as he struggled to contain the arrow's power.

His eyes glowed with a fierce light, and a blast of icy air shot out from his hand, encasing the arrow in a tomb of frozen crystal. The arrow shattered into a thousand pieces, its fragments scattering across the garden like fallen stars.

As the tension dissipated, Loren felt a presence behind him, a shadow looming large in the darkness. "Prince Loren!" Elaine's voice was a scream, a warning that sent Loren spinning around to face the new threat.

As the shadows converged, Loren knew he had to act fast. The first assassin, a dark form that seemed to materialize out of the night itself, moved with deadly precision, its target clear: Elaine.

But Elaine was no ordinary noblewoman. With a subtle gesture, she summoned the garden's fury, the plants twisting and writhing like living serpents. Thorny vines snaked out, ensnaring the assassin and holding it fast.

Loren moved next, his eyes blazing with icy fury. He cast a spike of ice beneath the assassin, but it was canceled by an unknown force, leaving him momentarily stunned.

The second assassin, a shadowy figure that had been lurking just out of sight, was immobilized when Loren froze the floor, trapping it in a sheet of glittering ice.

Just as it seemed the danger had passed, a voice rang out, commanding attention. "Enough!" Queen Elena's voice was like a whipcrack, sharp and authoritative.

As they turned to face her, Loren felt a jolt of surprise. The Queen's eyes seemed to gleam with amusement, her smile a thin, enigmatic curve.

The two assassins, now revealed as Gregorio and Leomord, two of the Queen's own Knights, were released from their icy prison. They bowed, their faces expressionless, as they introduced themselves.

Gregorio, the wielder of the sacred sword Saints of Seven Seas, seemed particularly disgruntled, his eyes flashing with anger. Leomord, on the other hand, appeared more amused, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

But the Queen's words were laced with a subtle warning. "You have an excellent tandem with Lady Elaine, Loren, but you've missed one."

As if on cue, a figure dropped from the balcony above, landing with a soft thud on the grass. Arthur, the wielder of the fiery bow Khryselakatos, grinned as he approached, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

The tension was palpable, the air thick with unspoken challenges. But as they exchanged words, the atmosphere began to shift, the Knights' banter and laughter weaving a fragile spell of camaraderie.

Loren watched, fascinated, as the Queen's Knights interacted with each other, their dynamics a complex web of power and loyalty. He knew that he had to tread carefully, to navigate the treacherous waters of court politics with precision.

As they made their way back to the party, Loren caught sight of Anastasia, her silver hair shining like a beacon in the crowd. She seemed to be enjoying herself, laughing and smiling with the other guests.

But Loren's attention was drawn back to Elaine, her face a mask of serenity as she met his gaze. He knew that he had to speak with her, to clear the air and reassure her of his intentions.

As he turned to make his way back to her side, he caught Venicio's eye, the older man's gaze a cold, unforgiving weight. Loren knew that he had to tread carefully, to avoid antagonizing Elaine's father further.

The night was young, and the shadows were still gathering. Loren knew that he had to be prepared for anything, to face the challenges that lay ahead with courage and cunning.

--

The dinner table, once a warm and inviting space, had transformed into a battleground. The Queen's eyes gleamed with a fierce intensity as she spoke of the former Viceroy's fate.

"I have heard of what happened to the former Viceroy, Alyssa," the Queen began, her voice dripping with an unsettling sweetness.

Alyssa's hands trembled as she set down her knife, her eyes darting nervously to her son. "Y-yes, My queen. My husband, the former Viceroy and Emperor of this country, has been sentenced to death by our people."

The Queen's gaze never wavered, her expression unyielding. She raised her wine glass, the crimson liquid glowing like blood in the dim light. As she sniffed the wine, her eyes flashed yellow, casting an eerie glow over the table.

"You offer us a dinner fit for humans, yet you all know that a wine will suffice," the Queen said, her voice dripping with disdain. "What do you think you are doing, New appointed Viceroy, Alyssa?"

Alyssa's composure began to fray, her voice cracking as she spoke. "My Q-queen—" But the Queen's words cut her off.

"Is it true that your household is protecting the humans who are in your territory?" The Queen's eyes seemed to bore into Alyssa's very soul, her gaze unyielding.

Loren felt his anger rising, his words tumbling out in a passionate defense of his family's honor. "My Queen, we are governing the country for decades, and we haven't lost our power even to the humans. My father wanted to manage the extraction of blood to them still, but not to abuse power and make the humans suffer!"

But the Queen's gaze never wavered, her eyes boring into his very soul. "Yet you lose power controlling the nobles here. After the tragedy, you remain in defense and cover the entire region with your ice and blizzards."

The tension was palpable, the air thick with unspoken challenges. Loren's mother whispered his name, a gentle warning to calm down.

But then, like a sudden breeze on a summer's day, Anastasia spoke, her voice a gentle melody that seemed to soothe the savage beast. "My Queen, allow me to speak."

The Queen's eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking to Anastasia before nodding graciously. "Thank you. I knew nothing in politics, but your Knight in the tour will return soon and give you proof that the lands still in Descovick's territory are loyal to their governance. The humans and other vampires outside their household remain loyal to the throne."

The room seemed to hold its breath, the only sound the soft melting of the food on the table. The Queen's expression was unreadable, her eyes gleaming with a knowing light.

"I knew you have the psychic capabilities pairing with the royal family," the Queen said, her smile a thin, enigmatic curve.

The Queen's voice was like a whipcrack, sharp and authoritative, as she summoned Marco, one of her most trusted Knights. A small whirlwind erupted beside her, depositing Marco and a young human girl in front of them.

Marco bowed his head, his tuxedo immaculate, as he greeted the Queen. "Yes, my Queen."

The Queen's gaze flicked to the human girl, her eyes narrowing. "Who is the human, Marco?"

Marco's smile was warm and encouraging as he nodded to the girl. "M-my name is Lecieta, my Q-queen," the girl stammered, her eyes wide with fear. "My family lives in the territory governed by the Tsesarevich."

The Queen's expression was unreadable, her voice dripping with an unsettling sweetness. "What brings her here, Marco?"

Marco's response was enigmatic, his eyes locked on the Queen's. "Go ahead, speak for your prince," he whispered to Lecieta, his voice barely audible.

The girl took a deep breath, her words tumbling out in a passionate plea. "Since the grip of the Descovicks weakened, other noble vampires and stray vampires began to treat humans poorly. They closed their territories to defend us here from other nobles who want to steal the crown, but leaving humans outside their territories to be treated inhumanely."

The Queen's eyes widened, her expression shocked, as Lecieta's words painted a vivid picture of a hellish landscape. "Other villages were massacred or enslaved for their blood."

The room seemed to hold its breath, the only sound the soft hum of tension. The Queen's voice was like a crack of thunder, shaking the very foundations of the room. "This is still the result of how poorly you managed the vampires, Alyssa."

Alyssa's face was ashen, her eyes wide with fear, as she knelt before the Queen. "Y-yes, my Queen. We will control the lands and make sure to prevent wars."

The Queen's gaze flicked to Loren, her eyes burning with an inner fire. "So then, I won't extract you here yet, Loren. Your first mission as my Knight is to bring back power to Descovick's."

Loren knelt, his heart pounding in his chest, as he gave his allegiance. Anastasia mirrored his movements, her eyes locked on the Queen's.

The Queen's voice was a gentle reminder, a subtle warning. "Since I won't be publicly supporting you in uniting this country, you know I won't give you any of my soldiers, right?"

The three of them responded in unison, their voices a solemn promise. "Yes, my Queen."

The Queen's smile was enigmatic, her eyes glinting with a knowing light. "But do not dismay, a powerful creature is with you."

As the Queen turned to leave, Loren felt a shiver run down his spine. What did she mean? And who was this powerful creature she spoke of? He exchanged a puzzled glance with his mother, the only sound the soft rustle of the Queen's skirts as she disappeared into the shadows.

---

Before the daylight explodes in Russian lands, the Queen and her forces flee to their next destination.

"You surely give yourself a scare whenever I speak on your affairs, Prince Loren"

Anastasia is standing on the water in the center of the pond located in the garden where he made sure to approach silently but got busted right away. She is meditating.

"It is because I am sure you are not one of us. Who sealed you on that frozen lake, Anastasia?" he confronted as he come closer to her.

The mysterious woman looked at him. She stops meditating and faces him.

"You are correct. I am not a vampire nor a werewolf not also human" she flew and landed on the side of the pond, walking towards him.

"I am what you call a Fairy," she said stopping in front of him.

"That is ridiculous. Fairies are myths and tales for kids" he exclaimed.

The woman reached his face and gently pull him closer to hers. Their face is a meter away from each other. She looked at his deep blue eyes and he looked at her cold bluish-white eyes.

"So are your races. We lived longer than you were. We are one of the first beings on this world, Loren" he felt the warmth on her breath reaching his skin.

"Why do you have to introduce yourself to the party as my wife? My mother scolded me for that too. I almost risk our house for that"

Loren is irritated but Anastasia just turns her back and dance in front of her. Dancing as if there is a song playing in the air.

"Answer my question, my lady. What you did might cause my family another enemy" he has tensions both in his words and his movements.

Anastasia stops dancing and faced him in distance.

"You asked me who sealed me on that frozen lake?"

An eerie atmosphere envelops the two of them.

"I sealed someone in there. I caught up with my own spell when I tried to give my all just to trap her in"

She is not making any sense but she continues.

"Do you know exactly why your kind exists?" she then asked. Serious when she's looking through his eyes.

It gave him a shiver in his spine but collects himself to answer.

"It was a curse from a powerful witch, they say"

She walks around him afterward. Silent and mysterious she circled him, looking at his entirety from every angle.

"A powerful witch is not the reason for your existence. It is my Kind, Your Imperial Highness. Your ancestors were once human and been cursed by the evil fairy" He paused. Confused.

"What does that to do with you, the sealed lake, and the person you are trying to trap in there?" He wants to jump down to where the woman wants to point it.

"That person I tried to trap in the lake was a celestial being. She annihilated the rest of my kind and I was the only one who managed to escape and survive"

He stopped her from circling him as he gets dizzy and confused about the words she is releasing from her mouth. Why does he think the small world he knew suddenly gets bigger and wider? And a celestial being? Why is this a joke?

"Celestial beings are creatures I assumed humans call Angels. With the creation of the Vampires and Werewolves, which are not natural beings from the world, Angels started to persecute us for committing abomination from the Creator"

He grabbed her shoulders, face to face, and looked into each other's eyes. He is looking for some signs that she is playing on his mind. But there's nothing but the truth in hers.

"Vampires and Werewolves are myths from the humans who never encountered them. Do you really think that aside from your race there is no one hiding from the shadows? Angels, Demons, Fairies, Mermaids, Beastmen... all of them are real, lurking in the shadows. Vampires and werewolves are considered new races from the Beastmen. We are the first dwellers of the earth together with humans since the beginning of time. You have only existed hundred thousands of years"

He released her from his grasp when all of the information started to slowly sink into his mind. Gazing down and eyes looking for answers, Anastasia touches the man's face to stop him from overthinking.

"The first powerful beings won't publicly harm any of the present beings including humans, Your Imperial Highness. You don't have to think about any worst scenarios" she tried to assure him.

"But you're here, in front of me. You start to ruin everything, our relationship to Garados household, to my fiancee--"

"I have valid reasons for that"

He forcefully removed her hand from his face by throwing it in the air.

"Valid reasons?" tears went visible in the sides of his eyes. He is frustrated.

"That man, Venicio was it? He is hiding something and I can sense that Angel-- who massacred my family and friends from him!" she shouted. Angered with his face, hating him.

"You have no power over what you are claiming. You're just playing around with us"

Anastasia walked toward him, removed the distance from their body, and slapped him in the face.

"You saw no one with me when the spell broke from that Lake! The angel got released before me! Someone freed him and I am telling you that that might be Venicio! How dare you talk to me like that, HUMAN!" she emphasized the last word then her eyes glow in bluish-cold eyes showing her anger.

The trembling force came around them after he received her slap. The water in the pond trembles as the air give destructive power.

"How dare you call me human?" angered and with eyes glowing, Loren faced the woman after she slapped him in the face.

Silence! the woman commanded through his mind.

His power suddenly stop rushing out of his body, his anger stopped, and everything in their surrounding was silenced and he was confused looking at the woman.

The woman's eyes return to normal and smile at him.

"Now you know what I'm capable of"

She turned her back and walks away from the pond.

"W-wait!" Loren tried to reach Anastasia but he was stoned from his feet.

"If Venicio is hiding the Angel, without me severing your family ties with them will not change the fact that Garados will betray you in the future. They will use the power of the Celestial being to seize the throne without your help of marrying and combining your houses."

"How sure are you? Garados are our allies centuries ago even from now"

She stops walking away and faces him one last time.

"I have psychic abilities greater than your Queen Elena and I know how greedy the man in the shadows" She then left.

Loren was speechless. When Anastasia is gone, he is then able to move but he has no strength and fell from his feet and floated into the pond.

"But do not dismay, a powerful creature is with you."

He then remembered the last words of Queen Elena before she departed.

Is the Queen knew this all along?